Pros
- Legacy brand dedicated to celebrating and honoring Black women, and continues to stay true to that mission.
- Incredibly talented team—smart, creative, hardworking, and fun to work with.
- Strong work elevating the brand through content, photography, fashion, and red-carpet coverage.
- Black Women in Hollywood remains a standout platform.
- Essence Festival of Culture continues to grow and evolve.
Cons
- Lack of clear strategy; "building as we go" often felt like a substitute for planning.
- Understaffed teams and limited investment in systems and operations led to employees wearing multiple hats.
- Deliverables and client service often suffered due to resource constraints, not effort.
- Toxic leadership culture.
- Frequent turnover and layoffs created instability.